Same-Sex Couples Marry in Santa Fe, N.M.

A judge's ruling allows for licenses to be issued in Santa Fe County, while the statewide fate of marriage equality remains to be determined.

BY Trudy Ring

August 23 2013 8:47 PM ET

The mass wedding in Santa Fe

More same-sex couples married in New Mexico today, as the Santa Fe County clerk began issuing licenses and about a dozen couples held a mass wedding in a county office late this afternoon.

Judge Sarah Singleton, ruling on a lawsuit brought by two Santa Fe men wishing to marry, issued an order Thursday directing the clerk’s office in Santa Fe County to issue licenses to gay and lesbian couples, the Associated Press reports. Clerk Geraldine Salazar’s office began providing the licenses shortly after 1:30 p.m. today, with the first going to county commissioner Liz Stefanics and Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for the LGBT rights group Equality New Mexico. The two men who filed the suit, Alexander Hanna and Yon Hudson, were also among those receiving licenses.

Then at 3:51 p.m., a dozen or so same-sex couples who had obtained licenses were pronounced legally married in the County Commission’s chambers, reports ProgressNow New Mexico, a group that advocates for marriage equality and other progressive causes. There are photos on the organization’s Facebook page.

Santa Fe County is New Mexico’s third most populous county, and the city of Santa Fe is the state capital. Doña Ana County, the second largest in the state, began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples Wednesday. About 90 licenses have been provided to these couples so far, the AP reports. Some Republican legislators are planning to file suit to stop the issuance there.

Other courts and elected officials are expected to weigh in before there is a statewide decision on marriage equality. New Mexico neither prohibits nor authorizes same-sex marriage, and marriage equality activists are trying to get a case before the state Supreme Court that they hope will result in a favorable ruling.